Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councilor Booth and Councillor Clegg and Richard Downie.

Cllr Dawson acted as substitute representative for Cllr Clegg.

There were no interests or dispensations declared at the meeting.

To submit the minutes of the Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee, held on 23^rd July 2025, for approval as a correct record.

Recommended                     -   That the Minutes be received and approved as a correct record.

The Minutes of the last meeting, held on 23^rd July 2025, were submitted for approval as a correct record.

Resolved                          -    That, the minutes of the Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 23^rd July 2025, be accepted as a correct record.

The Chair provides an update on the following issues:

a)    Budget Monitoring

b)    Performance Review

c)      Household Support Fund

The Chair provided the Committee with an update on the items considered at the previous meeting.  These included items on Performance Review, Household Support Fund and the Leisure Services Annual Review.

To update Scrutiny Committee on preparations to submit a proposal for Local Government Reorganisation to Government; and

To present to Committee the business case that has been prepared to support the creation of three unitary authorities in Lancashire. A one-page executive summary of this case is attached, and a copy of the full business case will be circulated to members once the final version is approved for publication.

Recommended             -    That the comments and recommendations of the Committee be noted and actioned, as required.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Munsif Dad, presented a report to update the Committee on preparations to submit a proposal for Local Government Re-organisation to Government.  He gave details of the business case that had been prepared to support the creation of three unitary authorities in Lancashire.  A one-page executive summary of this case was attached to the report and a copy of the full business case had been circulated to Committee Members, prior to the meeting.  Also, in attendance at the meeting was the Chief Executive, David Welsby, and the Policy Manager, Stuart Sambrook, to respond to the questions of the Committee.

The Leader of the Council explained that the aim for Local Government Re-organisation was to improve service and financial efficiency.  He reported that Hyndburn had chosen to propose the three unitary model to Government and pointed out that this model was the most suitable and met all Government tests without compromise.  Other models weakened the case for any reform.  He indicated that the issue was also due to be discussed by Full Council before a decision was taken by Cabinet on the 19^th November 2025.  All proposals had to be submitted to Government no later than 28^th November 2025. 

Questions in Advance

Members had submitted questions in advance which requested further information on timelines, consultation of the matter, the financial impact of the cost of Adult social care, clarity around an Elected Mayor and civic Mayors, Shadow Authority elections and electoral divisions and the number of Council representatives proposed for the new Unitaries.

The Committee was provided with a timeline and key dates for the Local Government Re-organisation and informed that a full consultation with the public would be carried out.  It was pointed out that Adult Social Care was the biggest expenditure in Unitary Councils and one of the factors influencing Council reform.  Of the different reform model options the evidence provided in the business cases favoured the 3-model option.  In respect of the introduction of a Lancashire elected Mayor, the Committee was informed that this was a possibility and that there could be Mayoral elections in 2028.  The continuation of Civic Mayors was currently unknown but this would be decided before the introduction of a new Shadow Authority.  In respect of elections and electoral divisions, the Committee was informed that it was likely that wards would be based on County wards, although nothing had yet been confirmed.

Further Discussion

Members of the Committee submitted further questions and comments on Local Government Re-organisation including:

·         During the September consultation, which business stakeholders participated and requested data and numbers.

·         Was consideration given to coastal authorities and natural borders when considering the formation of new Unitary Authorities.

·         Elected Members for the new Unitary Authorities would, potentially, have a greater number of electorates to represent.  There was concern that representatives could find their workloads unmanageable and asked for consideration to be given to this factor.

·         Will the Local Elections in May 2026  ...  view the full minutes text for item 198.

To inform members of the Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the level of external consultancy fees and costs for both revenue and capital expenditure for 2024/2025 and for the 1^st six months of 2025/2026.

Recommended             - The Committee notes the revenue costs and the challenges faced by the Council, as detailed in the report.

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Resources, Councillor Vanessa Alexander, submitted a report to inform Members of the Committee on the level of external consultancy fees and costs for both revenue and capital expenditure for 2024/25 and for the first six months of 2025/26.  The Executive Director, Resources, was also in attendance to support the presentation.

The Executive Director, Resources, explained that recruitment agencies were used for staff cover if there was a need for additional staff to cover seasonal or temporary work as well as if there was a need to deliver short term projects which required expertise that the Council didn’t have.  He reported that the report only referred to revenue costs and detailed: costs per service area, company names against the cost and reasons for the recruitment.  The Committee was informed of the total cost for 2024-25 of £925,653k and for the first six months of 2025-26 of £702,187. 

In respect of the need to use recruitment agencies, he explained that they would be used when there had been unsuccessful attempts to recruit permanent staff, there was a need for specialist expertise for short-term projects and to meet seasonal or temporary demand.  He indicated that the Council had found it difficult to appoint key personnel due to competition for people in these posts and informed the meeting that there was also a shortage of qualified people and that the salaries being offered were not competitive enough.  However, he informed the meeting that the authority was managing and, although there was a need for a review of the Council’s job evaluation system, this would not be feasible due to Local Government Reorganisation. 

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Resources, Councillor Vanessa Alexander informed the Committee of the difficulty of appointing staff in some areas of the Council.  She pointed out that there was a gap between experienced staff who had worked for the authority for years and young new starters in the authority.

Members submitted questions in advance of the meeting as follows:

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Resources, Councillor Alexander and the Executive Director, Resources responded to the questions as follows:

1.  Has the Council negotiated with an agency in respect of the supply of staff, to ensure reduced rates?

Response - There was NOT one favoured agency, Matrix is often used by other larger authorities, but there was not currently a deal in place with any agency at Hyndburn as the selection for professional roles is based upon a ‘best fit and experience’ level with interviews generally taking place.

2. The report contains a breakdown of figures for revenue expenditure but not for Capital expenditure, is it possible for the figures to be provided for the Capital Expenditure for external consultancy fees?

Response -Capital expenditure figures were provided verbally as follows:

Capital expenditure for external consultancy fees was provided for the 2024/25 & 2025/26 to date.

2024/25 - £1.057m including £31k spent on DFG and £32k on Wilson’s Playing Fields, £949k LUF scheme.

    2025/26 - first six months £518k  ...  view the full minutes text for item 199.

Recommended - That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during the following item, when it is likely, in view of the nature of the proceedings that there would otherwise be disclosure of exempt information within the Paragraph at Schedule 12A of the Act specified in at the item.

Resolved                -    That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during the following item, when it was likely, in view of the nature of the proceedings that there would otherwise be disclosure of exempt information within the Paragraph at Schedule 12A of the Act specified at the following item.

(Exempt information under the Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12A, Paragraph 1 – Information relating to an individual)

Committee are requested to give consideration, and make a recommendation to Full Council, in respect of the attached report for the vacant Co-optee position, for a young person (aged 18 to 25 years). 

Recommended                     -   That Committee make a recommendation to Full Council on the application for the vacant Co-optee position for a young person (aged 18- 25 years).

Exempt Information under the Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12A, Paragraph 1 – Information relating to an individual

The Committee was requested to consider and make a recommendation to Full Council on the application submitted for the vacant co-optee position on the Communities and Wellbeing Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

Resolved                  -    That the Communities and Wellbeing Overview & Scrutiny Committee recommend that Full Council approve the application for the vacant co-optee position.